“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalm 100:1-5

As we prepare for the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday many of us are readying ourselves for the simultaneous joy and apprehension that often accompanies the gathering of families. Perhaps you picture the Rockwellian family ideal ― breaking bread, gathering, sharing, reflecting, loving togetherness or maybe instead, your table…

“give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” –1 Thessalonians 5:18

The commonly painted portrait of the first Thanksgiving depicts the Native Americans and Plymouth settlers casting aside their divergences to break bread together in a celebration of thanks that surmounted their mutual suspicion. These early hunters and foragers were thankful for the autumn harvest that would potentially see them through the harsh East Coast winter. They were truly grateful for God’s provision.

Today many of us will gather with family over a meal and reflect on the things we are thankful for. Break out of the perfunctory mold and reach deep.

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God” –2 Corinthians 4:15

God is glorified more fully when we feel thankfulness, not when we only say, “Thank you.”

Authentic heart-feelings are not in our control. We can’t make ourselves feel thankfulness. If our hearts are not moved by God’s goodness, we are ungrateful. Thankfeelings are a work of grace.

Therefore, as fallen sinners whose hearts are often dull, we should regularly pray for God to overcome our sinful hardness, and cause us to see his goodness and feel thankful.

When I was growing up, my mom would typically prompt Thanksgiving table conversation along the lines of, “Let’s go around the table and share something we’re each thankful for.”

Cringe. Shudder. Sticks out tongue. I hated that. (Sorry, Mom.)

Not only was I put on the spot, often “getting” to go first, but I felt embarrassed and awkward to voice aloud something that someone else might think was dumb or corny. Know-it-alls do not like to be perceived as dumb or corny. And I was most definitely a know-it-all.

Nowadays, I also realize that I just wasn’t a very thankful kid.

I always wanted something more. What we had certainly wasn’t as nice as what someone else had. I was the one crouching down in the backseat of the car when my mom stopped at garage sales or hiding in the racks at Kmart if I saw a kid from school.

Forget the fact that they were in Kmart, too! I perceived my parents’ frugality as a sign that we lacked something.

Like this:

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The purpose of this blog is to provide helpful resources and support to the women of Taft Avenue Community Church. Our ultimate goal is to encourage women in Christ by connecting them with God and each other so they will grow in their faith. This will enable them to reach out with the gospel and with God's love to other women in the church and in the community.

Foundational Scripture

"Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled."- Titus 2:3-5 ESV

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